Savannah courier. (Savannah, Tenn.) 1885-1979, 1887-04-07
A FOREST HOME.
Vividly-Related Story of a Woman
Pioneer.
Interesting Recital of Journey to and
settlement In the Wllds of Minnesota
Indian Scares-Ridiculous
Incidents,

MY husband was travelling man,
and by strict economy we had saved
considerable money and owned num-
Der of houses. We had been married
about seven years. when one evening
in the spring of 1856 he said: II would
like to go to Minnesota then a Terri
tory and start a town. Are you will
ing to go with mep" said was. 1t
was early spring, and cold. We con-
cluded to. wait till the weather was
warm and pleasant. We began to pre-
pare for the journey, he in disposing of
property and l in sewing and making
ready to pack. We made a great mis-
take in our preparations. Instead of
taking only what was actually neces-
sary we packed furniture, ETC., enough
for two or three log houses. After
talking the matter over he decided to
20 out first and locate place before
taking his family. employed an ex-
perienced hand to pack our piano, and
it was so well done that after being on
the road for six months (and part of
the way, some twenty-five miles,
it was carried through the woods
by eight men) it arrived in good con-
dition and tone. had, with the help
of others, almost every thing packed
and ready when my husband returned
after an absence of little over two
weeks. He had fortunately met man
whose claim laid between two lakes
and was twenty-five miles from any
town. The man was willing to join
with him in starting town, and sold
him the undivided half. 1t was one
bright morning in May that, our house
hold goods having all been safely
stored on steamboat, we said goodbye
to our friends and started down the
Ohio. Our journey by water was long
but pleasant. l had become accus-
toned to being pointed at as the little
woman who was going to live in the
wilds of Minnesota. The boat landed
one day and man and woman came
ON board. The woman had mans
straw hat on, and belted around hel
waist were two revolvers and a knife
was brought to her notice, and she
advised me to turn back. She said the
woods were full of centipedes, snakes
horrible bugs and spiders, besides the
danger from Indians.
Arriving at the end of our journey
by water, my husband, after seeing the
children and myself comfortably set
tied at the hotel, left in the company
of two or three Others with whom h,
had become acquainted during oul
Journey, and who had decided to locat,
near his place. He left with the in
tention of returning for us as soon a
he had house built, but had to built
a house for store. l heard occasion
ally from my husband. Every thing
was going on well. He had built tw,
log houses, and had been to Dubuqu,
and bought goods for the store. Abou
this time was taken very sick will
typhoid fever. A physician was called
but continued to grow worse. M,
husband was sent for, and for Il few
days it was a matter of life and death
when change for the better tool
place, and in the course of week o.
ten days / had become so much bette
that he concluded to take us back witt
him. Our household good had beer
nearly all removed to our home
Among the furniture remaining was
large sofa. 1t was placed in the wagon
and, with some pillows loane'
by the landlord, l was mad
as comfortable as possible. We thel
started on our wearisome journey o
twenty-five miles, the most of the wa
through woods, no road, but over rough
uneven ground, obliged to stop occa
sionally to cut down tree to max
way for the wagon. Twas completed
worn out when, at dusk, we arrived a
what was to be my home for the mex
few wears. Of course. not expecting
us out so soon, the house was still un
iinished-no door, no windows. w
had TO nail up carpets and quilts 70
that and many other nights. No on
could be an invalid long in that de
lightful country. l gained strengtl
each day, our house was soon finished
and then commenced the pleasant tas
of making our home look like home
Our cabin was unusually large. Tn
lower floor was one room. as was ais
the upper, the only difference betwee
the two you had to lower your hes